Tems, Burna Boy Set New Billboard Hot 100 Record for African Artists
Nigerian music stars Tems and Burna Boy have surpassed South African rock band Seether to become the African artists with the highest number of entries on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 chart.
The Nigerian duo achieved the milestone after securing new placements on the chart through guest appearances on J. Cole’s latest album, The Fall-Off. Prior to this week, Tems, Burna Boy and Seether were tied with seven entries each on the prestigious singles chart.
Tems’ collaboration, “Bounce Road Blues,” which also features American rapper Future, debuted at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, Burna Boy’s feature on “Only You” entered the chart at No. 78. The new entries bring both Nigerian artists to eight career appearances each on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest tally by any African act in the chart’s history.
Tems has enjoyed a particularly strong year on the U.S. charts. With three Hot 100 entries in 2026, “Raindance” with British rapper Dave, “What You Need,” and the newly debuted “Bounce Road Blues”, she currently holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries by an African artist this year.
Burna Boy, on the other hand, has extended his own record, becoming the first African artist to place at least one song on the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive years. His charting run began with “Loved By You” in 2021 and continued with “Last Last” in 2022. In 2023, he scored entries with “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” and “Talibans II,” followed by “Just Like Me” and “We Pray” in 2024, “WGFT” in 2025, and now “Only You” in 2026.
The latest achievement further underscores the growing global influence of Nigerian music and Afrobeats on the international stage.
